Tag Archives: Mets

I wrote at the beginning of spring training Duaner Sanchez’s health was a key, that if he rebounded from shoulder surgery he could become a viable set-up reliever. He was hit hard in his first appearance and has done little to change the feeling impending doom.

Sanchez was released by the Mets after failure to reach 90 on the speed gun in Monday’s game against Baltimore. Sanchez gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He’s walked six in five innings, an indication not only his speed is gone, but he velocity as well.

Said Minaya: “We looked at his overall performance based on last year to what we see now and we didn’t see the improvement we felt was needed to be effective in the major leagues.”

He’s easily the most important Met. How far they go this season is dependant on Johan Santana’s elbow, his shoulder, and his knee – every part of him.

October will be yet another empty month if Santana is injured and misses a substantial part of the season.

The appearance is the Mets aren’t on the same page on a timetable when a day after pitching coach Dan Warthen’s itinerary had Santana missing Opening Day the two-time Cy Young winner said he thought differently.

Santana threw 46 pain-free bullpen pitches Wednesday and the tenor has changed. Santana, manager Jerry Manuel said, isn’t a like everybody else, telling reporters in Port St. Lucie: “You have templates that you like to follow, and everybody don’t fit those templates. That’s why he is who he is.’’

I don’t think anybody doubts Santana’s competitiveness. All you have to do is think back to his last start of the season on a bum knee that required surgery.

This guy throws with his guts as much as he does his arm, and part of me can’t help but wonder if the Mets are doing with Santana what they did with Pedro Martinez, which is let him call the shots.

If they thought he needed a MRI a week ago, then why not go through with it and be sure?

Tom Glavine has a job this summer. He’ll make $1 million this year from the Braves. It’s what you get at the end of your career when you’ve already locked up the Hall of Fame and just want to play.

Pedro Martinez is auditioning with Team Dominican Republic. There are no guarantees for him.

Martinez took a shot at Glavine the other day when talking about his contract: “If I wanted to pitch that bad, I probably would. But I don’t think I’m in that stage. I believe I’m very comfortable. I’m not going to let anybody disrespect my abilities or the way I am. I wouldn’t say I would want to pitch that bad.”

Wow. That’s high heat. Glavine and Martinez were never best buds when the two were on the Mets.

I had the sense Glavine resented some of the things Martinez got away with, such as dictating his own training. I also had the sense Martinez didn’t want to share billing with Glavine.